[Offtopic] Guidelines on schoolyard brawls

[Alexakos, Zach Z]

VIT says "..Each school sets out its expectations of teachers in their
employment contracts"- 

In other words it's all too hard for us- we'll just pass on the buck to
someone else.  


Zach Alexakos

Ps;  Who was the numnut who came up with the idea of VIT?


-----Original Message-----
From: offtopic-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:offtopic-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of
stephen at melbpc.org.au
Sent: Sunday, 12 August 2007 4:16 PM
To: english at edulists.com.au; offtopic at edulists.com.au
Subject: [Offtopic] Guidelines on schoolyard brawls

"Teachers call for guidelines on schoolyard brawls"

Posted (on ABC website) 5 hours 30 minutes ago 
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/12/2002735.htm>

Victorian teachers are calling for official guidelines and training in
how 
to respond to schoolyard fights.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has reviewed the 
actions of a teacher who refused to step in during a brawl at a high 
school, south-east of Melbourne.

VCAT found there are no set rules requiring teachers to physically 
intervene and that there appears to be no clear guidelines to advise 
teachers on appropriate actions.

Australian Teachers Union (ATU) spokeswoman Mary Bluett says teachers
are 
concerned about the threat of litigation.

"When you are in a situation where a fight erupts, you are in two
minds," 
she said. 

"Do I go in and physically touch a student and open myself up perhaps to

legal action, or is the bigger issue my duty of care to prevent injury
to 
that student."

The state's regulatory body, the Victorian Institute of Teaching, says
it 
will examine VCAT's comments at its next executive meeting.

It says each school sets out its expectations of teachers in their 
employment contracts.

--
Cheers, people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia
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